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fine view of the plain of Yedo and Fuji, etc. The ascent of the mountain begins immediately after leaving the village, and the road passes through what was formerly the Buddhist temple of Chisokuin which has lately been removed by the zealous Chiji of the province who is a strict Shintoist. He has only left standing a curious covered bridge which used only to be opened for pilgrims and the gateway or Niô-mon. On the site of the temple it is intended to erect a Miya. From the temple to the summit of the western peak, called Nantaizan, it is a walk of 50 chô, about three and a half miles. This is the usual route for making the ascent, being much less steep than the road to the eastern peak, Niotaizan. The western peak is the higher of the two. On the summit are numerous shrines, those on Nantaizan dedicated to Izanagi no mikoto, and those on Niotaizan to Izanami no mikoto. The view from the summit is very extensive. The 8 provinces of Kuantô are said to be seen from it. The meaning of the word Tsukuba is a “bank heaped up to resist the waves,” and the god and goddess to whom the shrines are dedicated are said to have caused the sea to retire beyond what is now the island of Kashima. As the country is perfectly level up to the base of the mountain it is very probable that the sea has receded on this coast. Tradition says that the earth with which Tsukuba was formed was transported from a sacred mountain in China called Godaisan, which, according to the Guide Book, accounts for there being species of grass and trees found on it which are not found elsewhere in Japan. The mountain is covered with cryptomeria and pine, and in the summit are huge rocks over which it is difficult to scramble. In several places there are chains to assist one. The two peaks are half a mile apart. The descent from the Eastern Peak is very steep and much longer than the other, being 70 chô, about 5 miles. The path passes over and often between huge rocks to which fanciful names have been given from their supposed resemblance to various parts of the human body. There are in all 120 shrines at different places on the mountain.
